As the end of 2020 approaches, a sui generis year if there ever was one, there is one more thing to mourn: the death of the Font Times New Roman. This is a font we love. We use this font in our pleadings, and on this blog.
The Florida Supreme Court took the font out, and like a defendant appealing the denial of a motion to suppress an illegal search, the Florida Supreme Court put the last nail in the coffin.
You may not, repeat, you mayn't use Times New Roman in your appellate briefs in 2021. So say we all. Per curiam killed. It's over Johnny. The font is dead. Long live the font.
Effective January 1, 2021 at 12:03 a.m., the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure have been modified to require, among other things, that computer-generated documents be filed in either Arial 14-point font or Bookman Old Style 14-point font. In addition, the page limits for computer-generated briefs and petitions were converted to word counts. The changes also require that the certificate of compliance at the end of a document which is subject to a word count certify that the document is in conformity with all font and word count requirements. To ensure compliance with the new requirements, all filers are encouraged to review the Supreme Court of Florida’s opinion at: https://www.floridasupremecour
The above is Arial font. To use a technical legal term....it sucks.
We, of aging eyes and shortening arms, support the use of 14 point font. But we mourn the death of a font that has been the tip of the spear of our briefs and motions which have skewered legions of opponents. The written word, so beautifully conveyed in Times New Roman, has freed many a client.
But now, Covid-like, with the stroke of a pen, the Supremes have unleashed a pathogen that will inexorably alter written arguments in Florida for ever after.
Today we mourn. Goodbye old friend. We had a great run.
(Have we mentioned we really don't like this order? Font Lives Matter!)